Returning to new blooms
Headed back home at lunchtime, leaving Wales behind until next year. Having not seen my back garden for a week, I was intrigued to see what had come out and what had gone to seed.
A lot of the yellow rattle has gone to seed. A good sign because this year’s seed harvesting for the Glorious Grasslands starts on Monday, and this is the main indicator species.
Although I’m letting them mostly drop naturally, there are some places I want to seed next season, so I picked some seed heads by hand.
The musk mallow was the one I noticed first coming through the back gate. The self heal has also flowered, except it’s the tallest self heal I’ve ever seen. There are so many species packed into such a small area, they all out compete each other for light.
Down the lane, the purpletop vervain was looking spendid. This is the only plant of this type there, so I hope these seeds spread some more.
The nettles were looking bedraggled. I think the red admiral caterpillar has mostly finished so these can be cut down and hopefully a second flush will come this year to help out the later ones.
